Irish Pub Children's Foundation

MISSION STATEMENT

The Irish Pub Children’s Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to improving the lives in the community we live. We do this in three ways: by supporting first responders and their families who are killed or severely injured in the line of duty, improving relationships between law enforcement and the community they serve and encouraging our children through education and recreation.

History of the Irish Pub Tour de Shore

The Irish Pub Children’s Foundation (IPCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded by the owners of the Irish Pub. The IPCF is committed to improving the lives in the community we live. We do this in three ways: by supporting first responders and their families who are killed or severely injured in the line of duty, improving relationships between law enforcement and the community they serve and encouraging our children through education and recreation.

The 501(c)(3) was created in 2007 to better allocate and manage the funds raised from the Irish Pub’s signature event, The Irish Pub Tour de Shore, established back in 1988.

The Irish Pub Tour de Shore is a 65-mile bicycle ride from the Irish Pub in Philadelphia to the Irish Pub in Atlantic City. The bike ride started as part of the Ugly Bartender contest- a national MS society initiative. From 20 cyclists the first year, this ride has grown to over 2,300 cyclists participating in July of 2016, raising $965,000. This ride has become a summer staple in the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey community.

Throughout the first 20 years of the Irish Pub Tour de Shore, money raised went to a variety of worthy causes in the greater Philadelphia and South jersey area. In 2007, after several Philadelphia Police Officers were killed in the line of duty, the organization made a formidable change in its funding and put a greater emphasis on supporting families of our fallen officers. Today, the IPCF focuses on supporting first responders in need and educational initiatives in the greater Philadelphia and South Jersey Area.

To maximize the support given to our first responders, the IPCF provides an immediate grant of $5,000 directly to the families of first responders killed in the line of duty or when someone is critically injured. They follow up with continued support through the organizations that exist to support these families such as Philadelphia Police Survivors Fund, South Jersey FOP Lodge 56, Montgomery County Heroes Fund and Bucks County Hero Scholarship Fund.

In 2016, the Irish Pub Children’s Foundation raised over $1,022,000.00 primarily from its signature events, The Irish Pub Tour de Shore and the Gathering of Heroes, a guest bartending event at the Irish Pub featuring Medal of Honor recipients and others from the military.

In addition to the IPCF’s two main events, the IPCF touches lives through other grassroots events. “Families Behind the Badge” brings together widows and families of our fallen officers and raises money for the FOP Survivors Fund. The IPCF also spearheads an original citywide initiative called the “Police Youth Alliance”. Launched in 2015 to bridge the gap between police officers and children in disadvantages neighborhoods, The Police Youth Alliance is a collaboration with local schools to create programs taught by police officers in their corresponding districts, such as chess, art and dance.

It is the IPCF’s honor to give back to the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey community and support the children of our fallen heroes. To date, the IPCF has raised over $6 million for the children in our community. Every year, 80% of all proceeds go directly to their programs.